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Malcolm Pein looks forward to the World Championship Match Anand - Topalov in Sofia starting on April 23rd 2010.

The world title match between defending champion Vishy Anand of India and challenger Veselin Topalov from Bulgaria is approaching and so the psychological warfare has begun. Silvio Danailov, the challenger's manager launched the first broadside by insisting that his man would not accept draw offers from Anand under any circumstances. During the pre-match jousting the Bulgarian camp proposed the contest be played under Sofia rules which forbid draw offers. Anand declined so it looks like Topalov has unilaterally declared he will follow them.

It makes some sense for Topalov, the younger man, to keep the games going for as long as practicable and try to tire Anand. Topalov also enjoys home advantage, the match is being played in Sofia with game one scheduled for April 23 and game twelve for May 10. If the score is 6-6 there will be tie breaks on May 12. Danailov also criticised Anand for not making greater efforts to secure sponsorship from India but he can hardly be disappointed that his man will be playing on home soil. Anand and Topalov have enjoyed a good relationship over the years so hopefully there will be no scandals. Topalov's last title contest ended in defeat and enormous acrimony when he accused Vladimir Kramnik of cheating at their match held at Elista in 2006 in what became known as 'Toiletgate'.

One win apiece. I will give very long odds on this variation appearing in the match. It looks very dubious for White

Analysis: a) 14...0-0 15.Bxa6 Rxa6 16.Qe2 Qb7 17.dxe6 is equally random. b) Not 16...Bxe2 17.Qxa8+. c) Typically Topalov, he complicates. He could exchange queens 17...Qxc4 18.Bxc4 Rc8 19.Bb5 Bc6 =. d) At Rapid Chess it was hard to assess 18...Rc8! 19.b5 Bh2+ 20.Kh1 Bxg2+ 21.Kxg2 Qb7+ 22.Bf3 Qxf3+ 23.Kxf3 Rxc4 but Black is doing well. e) 19...Bxb4 is met by 20.Rxd7! Bxd7 (20...Kxd7 21.Qxf7+) 21.Bf3 Qc8 22.Qe4+ but 19...Ne5! 20.Qd4 0-0-0 is not so clear. f) The passed pawns decide. If 25...Rb4 26.Ra1 Kd7 27.Ra7+ Kd6 28.Rxe7 Kxe7 29.Bc5+ wins

V Anand - V Topalov

Leon Rapid 2007

Sicilian Defence

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Be3 e6 7.Be2 Nbd7 8.0-0 b5 9.a4 b4 10.Nc6 Qc7 11.Nxb4 d5 12.Nxa6!? Bxa6 13.exd5 Bd6 14.h3 exd5 15.Nxd5 Nxd5 16.Qxd5 Bb7 17.Qc4 Bc6 18.b4 Qb7?! 19.Rad1 Be7?! 20.b5 Bxg2

Veselin Topalov

Viswanathan Anand

Position after 20...Bxg2

21.Rxd7! Kxd7 22.Qg4+ Ke8 23.Qxg2 Qxg2+ 24.Kxg2 Rxa4 25.b6! Ra5

26.Rd1 Bg5 27.b7 Ke7 28.Bb6 Re5 29.Bd8+! 1-0

Veselin Topalov

Viswanathan Anand

Position after 29.Bd8+! and a pawn promotes.

Opening preparation may decide the match and here Topalov's strong12th move was new and led to a crushing win. Analysis

a) 14...d4? 15.Ne4 Be7 16.Nxd4! cxd4 17.Qxc8+ Bxc8 18.Nd2! traps the rook; 14...Qe6? 15.Nxd5! Bxd5 16.Ng5! b) 16...Qe6?! 17.Nf5 0-0 18.c4! c) After

21...Nd4! 22.Qe7 Nc6 23.Qf6 Nd4 24.Re7 Qc6 Black is in the game. d) 23...Rd8 24.Ne5 h5 25.Qf6 Rxd7 26.Rxd7. e) 24...Qa4 25.Rd6! Qc2 26.Ng5 h5 27.Rf6 wins

V Topalov - V Anand

Grand Slam Final Bilbao 2008

Queen's Indian

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 b6 4.g3 Ba6 5.Qc2 Bb7 6.Bg2 c5 7.d5 exd5 8.cxd5 Nxd5 9.0-0 Be7 10.Rd1 Qc8 11.a3 Nf6 12.Bg5! d5 13.Bxf6! Bxf6 14.Nc3 Bxc3 15.bxc3 Na6 16.Nh4 g6 17.Bxd5 Bxd5 18.Rxd5 0-0 19.Rad1 Nc7

20.Rd7 Ne6 21.Qe4 Qe8 22.Nf3 c4 23.Qh4! Nc5 24.Re7 Rd8 25.Rf1! 1-0

In view of 25...Qc6 26.Ng5 h5 27.Nxf7! Rxf7 28.Rxf7 Kxf7 29.Qxd8

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